Lancashire Evening Post 2008-01-04

A 46-year-old Longridge man who indecently exposed himself in a window of his home has been given a conditional discharge.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Peter Thompson was twice seen by a neighbour and on the second occasion she was with her partner who also saw him totally naked.

Thompson, of Preston Road, pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecently exposing himself but was convicted after a trial.

The paper presents this as a man, in his own house, being seen nude by a neighbour, which should should not have been a sexual offence. He got a conditional discharge for two years and had to pay compensation and costs.

There must have been more than just being seen naked to justifiy this sentence. It's a pity the paper could not make this clear, instead of spreading false impressions of the law. The headline Penalty for being nude at home is especially misleading.